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Comparing Langston Hughes And Gwendolyn Brooks

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Comparing Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks
“Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private” (Allen Ginsberg). This is exactly what Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks did with their work. Hughes and Brooks were prominent African American poets. Langston Hughes, born in 1902, is known for his insight of black lives during the 1920’s through the 1960’s (Poets, 2). Similarly, Gwendolyn Brooks, born in 1917, wrote about political consciousness; specifically the civil rights activism of the same time period (Poetry Foundation,1). Hughes won the Harmon gold medal for literature and Brooks was the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks were very influential poets and took similar stances through their poems. Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced and he was raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen. He then went to live with his mother in Illinois and finally settled in Ohio. Hughes started writing poetry when he lived in Illinois. He went to Columbia University for one year and finished his education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Before his first book was published, he had been “a truck farmer, cook, waiter, college graduate, sailor, and doorman at a …show more content…

Although Brooks had more support for her work than Hughes, he never gave up and his work is now admired. Hughes and Brooks were very influential writers during their time period and still have great influence today. They were both talented and changed many people's lives with their works. A lot of their poems were written because of the civil rights movement and sparked a lot of hope in the black community. They both used their passion of writing and ability to be published to create awareness and change many people's lives for the

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Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks most important legacy was her poetry that she gave to the world and her teachings to college students in Chicago. When Brooks was only thirteen she wrote a poem that was published in a magazine. This was the start of a beautiful career that made her a legend. Her stories of her experiences and about urban lives led her to reach heights such as writing entire volumes of poetry. From all of this, she has won many awards for her work.

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Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He was the only son of James Nathaniel Hughes. His Father was absent for most of his youth and did not want to have anything to do with black culture. Then Hughes was brought to his grandmothers, Mary Langston. Her house was in Lawrence, Kansas and his mother, Carrie lived with them.

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He was later well-known for The Great Gatsby and wrote about the roaring twenties. Langston Hughes (Feb 1st, 1902-1967) An African American poet and novelist famous for African American themes that made him an important contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote in a new form called jazz poetry. He was famous for saying “I am Negro and Beautiful”.

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On February 1st 1962 in Joplin, Missouri a social activist, poet, novelist, and playwright was born. Langston Hughes was the leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He was born to Carrie (Caroline) Mercer Langston and James Nathaniel Hughes. Caroline and James divorced shortly after Langstons birth. Hughes was mainly raised by his maternal grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas until her death in his early teens.

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His first greatly praised poem was called "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" which was published in Crisis Magazine. In 1921 Hughes came back to America and enrolled in Columbia University. He studied there for a while but soon got involved in the Harlem Renaissance. In 1922 he dropped out of

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Gwendolyn Brooks was an incredible poet and influenced the lives of many with her spoken word. Gwendolyn Brooks was an African-American poet that won various awards throughout her career. She was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1917, then months later moved to Chicago, IL. Poetry and bookwriting led her to be the

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Langston Hughes is one of the most well named writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Mr Hughes wrote for a variety of people from children books to plays but his most famous work are his poems. He moved to Harlem to attend college but he dropped out and began spending all his time in harlem writing and working to support himself. All of his writings reflected the African american culture because he believe it was just as important as the white culture. Some of his most famous pieces of work was “ Let America Be America Again” ,”One Way Ticket” and “Democracy”.

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Langston Hughes was born February 1st, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. In the roaring 20’s he started writing professionally and was essential in portraying black life in America. Hughes grew up in a time of social injustice involving the treatment of minorities (specifically African Americans). As his career went on the Harlem Renaissance became a major movement in which he was essential to.

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Langston Hughes was a poet, author, and civil rights movement leader who was born in Missouri, on February 1st, 1902. His most famous piece of work is his poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. Hughes tells a story throughout the course of his writing, especially in two other poems called “I, Too” and “Refugee in America”. These three poems play hand in hand in figuring out Hughes life journey. His life journey helps people have an understanding about what others went through as well as reflecting on the past and changing it.

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One African American author who made a monumental impression on scholars at the time, and still proceeds to impact current students with his powerful poetry was Langston Hughes. Along with him, were well-known female authors Lucille Clifton and Colleen McElroy. Their poems explored their own cultural heritage in a time where most people were unaware of how African Americans felt about various topics. These poems included ‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers’, ‘I, Too’, ‘Dream Variation’, and ‘Refugee in America’ by Langston

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Later in life Langston cited those two poets as his primary influences. Mr. Hughes also wrote literary pieces for the school magazine. He wrote literary pieces for poetry magazines too even though they were all rejected. Langston graduated from Central high school in 1920. He then spent the following year with his father in hopes to convince him to support his plan of getting into Columbia University.

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Together, they challenged stereotypes and affirmed the humanity of Black Americans during a pivotal time in America’s history. Langston Hughes was a poet who rose to fame during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes’ poetry was frequently aimed at

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Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou were African Americans alive during the period in American history when minority groups were fighting hard for their rights and respect among the country. These two authors used their writing skill to shed light on how African Americans felt throughout this period of time, opening many people’s eyes to how the oppressed truly felt. The civil rights movement could have had an entirely different outcome if it weren’t outspoken individuals such as these two. In Hughes’s well known poem “I, Too,” Hughes talks about how the people that mistreat him will soon regret everything they’ve done and will realize the true potential of him and everyone like him.

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That is why these poems are about and why they are so similar. Finally, many poems during this time were written about Civil Rights. There were many writers, especially African American authors that wrote about all the horrible things that were going on during this time. There were many more writers like Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou.

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This poem was written by Langston Hughes (1902-1967). He was born in Joplin, Missouri, USA. He was the great-great son of Charles Henry Langston (brother of John Mercer Langston, the first Black American to be elected to public office). Hughes attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and began writing poetry in the eighth grades. He wrote novels, short stories, plays, and poetry, and he is also known for his engagement with the world of jazz.

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